Past events: narrative forms
Use past simple for the main narrative sequence; Set background actions with the past continuous; Show an earlier past with the past perfect.
1. Which sentence clearly shows that the booking happened before the travellers reached the hotel?
Multiple Choice20sAThey had booked a room before they arrived.✓BThey booked a room while they arrived.CThey were booking a room after they had arrived.DThey have booked a room before they arrived.💡 The past perfect marks the earlier booking; the past simple marks the later arrival.
2. In a narrative, the past simple commonly describes the main events that move the story forward.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Completed main events are normally presented in the past simple.
3. Complete the background action with walk: I _____ across the square when someone called my name.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwas walking💡 The past continuous presents the longer action in progress when the shorter event happened.
4. Which sentence is the best main-event sequence?
Multiple Choice20sAShe opened the case, removed the file and left.✓BShe was opening the case, had removed the file and leaves.CShe had opened the case while she removed the file and was leaving.DShe opens the case, removed the file and had left.💡 Three completed events in chronological sequence use the past simple.
5. Match each narrative function to its example.
Matching30sMain completed event→The lights suddenly went out.Background action→Guests were chatting near the entrance.Earlier completed action→The technician had tested the system.Two simultaneous activities→I was taking notes while Ava was speaking.💡 The three narrative tenses distinguish event, background and earlier past.
6. Complete the earlier-past clause with expect: The building was smaller than we had _____.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedexpected💡 Had expected places the expectation before the later visit and assessment.
7. Put the chunks in order to describe an interruption.
Put in Order30s- 1.We
- 2.were discussing
- 3.the figures
- 4.when
- 5.the alarm rang.
💡 The past continuous gives the background; the past simple gives the interrupting event.
8. Which sentence describes two actions in progress at the same time?
Multiple Choice20sAWhile I was cooking, Sam was setting the table.✓BWhile I cooked, Sam had set the table.CI had cooked when Sam was setting the table.DWhile I was cooked, Sam set the table.💡 Two simultaneous ongoing background actions can both use the past continuous.
9. The later main event in a narrative should normally be in the past perfect, while the earlier event is in the past simple.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The past perfect looks back from a later past reference point.
10. Use the past participle of leave: By the time we reached the platform, the train had already _____.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedleft💡 The departure was complete before the later arrival, so the past perfect is required.
11. Which linker and tense combination is correct?
Multiple Choice20sAAs soon as the meeting ended, everyone left.✓BAs soon as the meeting had ending, everyone leaves.CWhile the meeting ended, everyone had leaving.DBy the time the meeting was ending, everyone has left.💡 The two completed events are presented as a past-simple sequence.
12. Match each narrative relationship to the sentence that illustrates it.
Matching30sEarlier event completed before a later one→By the time the rescue team arrived, the hikers had found shelter.Two background actions in progress together→While the guide was checking the map, the group was resting.Two main events in sequence→The door opened and a stranger walked in.An ongoing action interrupted by an event→We were driving north when the snow began.💡 Past perfect marks the earlier event, paired continuous forms show shared background, past simple advances a sequence, and past simple can interrupt a continuous action.
13. At eleven o'clock, dozens of passengers _____ still waiting for information.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwere💡 Were + waiting forms the past continuous for an action in progress at a stated time.
14. Past continuous can set the scene by describing a situation already in progress when a main event occurs.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Background scene-setting is a central narrative use of the tense.
15. Which tense best completes the main event: 'Suddenly, the driver _____ the brakes'?
Multiple Choice20sAapplied✓Bwas applyingChad appliedDhas applied💡 Suddenly introduces a completed main event, so the past simple is most suitable.
16. Put the chunks in order to show one event was earlier than another.
Put in Order30s- 1.The pilot
- 2.had checked
- 3.the weather
- 4.before
- 5.the passengers boarded.
💡 The past perfect marks the earlier check; the past simple marks the later boarding.
17. Use the past participle of begin: When we arrived at the stadium, the match had already _____.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedbegun💡 The match began before the arrival, so a past participle follows had.
18. Which sentence uses the past continuous for background and the past simple for the event?
Multiple Choice20sAThe sun was setting when the boat reached the harbour.✓BThe sun set when the boat was reached the harbour.CThe sun had setting when the boat reaches the harbour.DThe sun was set when the boat had reaching the harbour.💡 Was setting is ongoing background; reached is the completed event.
19. The word while automatically requires both clauses to be in the past continuous.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Linkers help connect events but do not mechanically determine tense.
20. The accident happened while the driver _____ looking at a message.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwas💡 Was looking describes the ongoing action at the time of the accident.